The technology developed by Rice Lab has the potential to provide time-released drugs and vaccines for months. The issue of missing essential doses of medicine and vaccines could become a thing of the past, thanks to new technology developed by bioengineers at Rice University. This state-of-the-art
Sealed microparticles containing colored dye are shown inside the narrow opening of a standard-sized hypodermic needle. Credit: Brandon Martin/Rice University
The consequences of not taking prescription medicine correctly can be devastating, resulting in a staggering annual cost. In the United States alone, it is estimated that the toll includes over 100,000 deaths, as much as 25% of hospitalizations, and a healthcare cost exceeding $100 billion. “The thing we’re trying to overcome is ‘first-order release,’” McHugh said, referring to the uneven dosing that’s characteristic with current methods of drug encapsulation. “The common pattern is for a lot of the drug to be released early, on day one. And then on day 10, you might get 10 times less than you got on day one.
In many cases, it would be ideal for patients to have the same amount of a drug in their systems throughout treatment. McHugh said PULSED can be tailored for that kind of release profile, and it also could be used in other ways. Though PULSED hasn’t yet been tested for months-long release delays, McHugh said previous studies from other labs have shown PLGA capsules can be formulated to release drugs as much as six months after injection.
“Our microparticles will stay where you put them,” McHugh said. “The idea is to make chemotherapy more effective and reduce its side effects by delivering a prolonged, concentrated dose of the drugs exactly where they’re needed.”The crucial discovery of the contactless sealing method happened partly by chance.
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